Luke LaManna

The Iranian protesters were still gathered outside the main gates, as usual. Bob was a senior officer at the consulate, and he knew enough Farsi to understand the words they were chanting. They said, "'God is great. Death to America.'" Bob cleared his throat, trying to keep his attention on the older Iranian couple sitting on the other side of his desk.

He explained the process of getting a visa to the United States. Things had been extra busy in the last year since the Iranian revolution had begun. A lot of Iranians were looking to get out of the country. The sound of the mob outside grew louder, and Bob raised his voice to talk over the noise. He knew why they were angry.

He explained the process of getting a visa to the United States. Things had been extra busy in the last year since the Iranian revolution had begun. A lot of Iranians were looking to get out of the country. The sound of the mob outside grew louder, and Bob raised his voice to talk over the noise. He knew why they were angry.

They'd been protesting for months, ever since the US had given refuge to their former leader, the deposed Shah of Iran, so he could receive cancer treatment. The student protesters believed this was part of a plot to overthrow Iran's government and reinstall the Shah as leader. It wasn't that far-fetched, since the CIA had done exactly that 25 years earlier.

They'd been protesting for months, ever since the US had given refuge to their former leader, the deposed Shah of Iran, so he could receive cancer treatment. The student protesters believed this was part of a plot to overthrow Iran's government and reinstall the Shah as leader. It wasn't that far-fetched, since the CIA had done exactly that 25 years earlier.

The students wanted the Shah to face justice, and they wanted America to pay. Still, Bob didn't know what that had to do with him. He was just there to help Iranians get visas to travel to the US. He hardly felt like an agent of, quote, the great Satan, which was the name Iran's leader would give America. The din outside suddenly turned into a roar. Bob looked out his window at the courtyard.

The students wanted the Shah to face justice, and they wanted America to pay. Still, Bob didn't know what that had to do with him. He was just there to help Iranians get visas to travel to the US. He hardly felt like an agent of, quote, the great Satan, which was the name Iran's leader would give America. The din outside suddenly turned into a roar. Bob looked out his window at the courtyard.

Some of the protesters had taken bolt cutters to the gate locks. Bob's stomach tightened as the gate flew open and the group flooded into the embassy compound. Bob tried to keep calm, even though he heard shouting from outside his office. With any luck, the Iranian police would get there any minute to arrest the trespassers. They'd done it before.

Some of the protesters had taken bolt cutters to the gate locks. Bob's stomach tightened as the gate flew open and the group flooded into the embassy compound. Bob tried to keep calm, even though he heard shouting from outside his office. With any luck, the Iranian police would get there any minute to arrest the trespassers. They'd done it before.

He thanked his lucky stars that he was in the smaller consulate building across the courtyard and not the main embassy that seemed to be their focus. The older Iranian couple at his desk scrambled up to leave, but Bob told them to take a seat. They should finish their visa application first. He was trying to convince them that everything was under control.

He thanked his lucky stars that he was in the smaller consulate building across the courtyard and not the main embassy that seemed to be their focus. The older Iranian couple at his desk scrambled up to leave, but Bob told them to take a seat. They should finish their visa application first. He was trying to convince them that everything was under control.

In truth, he was trying to convince himself too. The woman was shaking as she signed her name and hurried off. Bob hurried down to the lobby. There he saw some of his coworkers frantically locking and barricading the doors to the courtyard. Everyone looked scared, especially the Iranian employees and visa applicants.

In truth, he was trying to convince himself too. The woman was shaking as she signed her name and hurried off. Bob hurried down to the lobby. There he saw some of his coworkers frantically locking and barricading the doors to the courtyard. Everyone looked scared, especially the Iranian employees and visa applicants.

They knew the revolutionaries liked to shoot first and ask questions later, especially against Iranians they thought were supportive of the United States. Bob hurried over to a small group of coworkers, two couples, Mark and Cora Lijak, and Joe and Kathy Stafford. In hushed tones, they discussed a plan of action. Should they wait around to see if the police would come to their rescue?

They knew the revolutionaries liked to shoot first and ask questions later, especially against Iranians they thought were supportive of the United States. Bob hurried over to a small group of coworkers, two couples, Mark and Cora Lijak, and Joe and Kathy Stafford. In hushed tones, they discussed a plan of action. Should they wait around to see if the police would come to their rescue?

Or should they make a break for it? Suddenly, the power went off and gunshots rang outside. People started screaming in English and Farsi. Bob's younger co-workers looked at him, wide-eyed. It was clear what they had to do. Get out. Now. Now. An Iranian guide led the group outside. The consular building was the only structure in the compound with direct access to the street.

Or should they make a break for it? Suddenly, the power went off and gunshots rang outside. People started screaming in English and Farsi. Bob's younger co-workers looked at him, wide-eyed. It was clear what they had to do. Get out. Now. Now. An Iranian guide led the group outside. The consular building was the only structure in the compound with direct access to the street.

Silently, they filed out the door and into the rain. Bob let out a sigh of relief when he saw that none of the protesters were waiting for them in the side street. But now the question remained, where would they go? The only thing he could think to do was to keep moving. He and the group headed south in the direction of the British embassy.

Silently, they filed out the door and into the rain. Bob let out a sigh of relief when he saw that none of the protesters were waiting for them in the side street. But now the question remained, where would they go? The only thing he could think to do was to keep moving. He and the group headed south in the direction of the British embassy.

Hopefully they could hide out there until this all blew over. Fifteen minutes after leaving the embassy, Bob was so nervous he could hardly see straight. But he was the highest-ranking officer among them, not to mention 30 years older, so he had to keep it together. Still, the thought of what might be happening back at the embassy made his heart race.